Readers' comments

I had the chance a few days ago to watch Samsung's 3D TV. The image, while certainly 3D, flickered annoyingly. I don't think it would be pleasant to sit through an entire movie of this. (Especially since it was an animated movie playing in the demonstration.) It is this sort of technology that is usually best purchased when it's in the second or third generation. The first generation is rarely great. I will take a pass.

Same old, same old. My Amiga had this technology in 1990, using NTSC standards.

Now for the not really big news. HDTV wasn't going anywhere until the manufacturers paid (campaign contributions) to make HDTV the mandatory, legal standard. Surprised? Don't be. Seeing the success in forcing HDTV onto the public, and reaping huge economic rewards don't be shocked that as a result, the "new" 3D will soon see more campaign contributions with favorable legislation soon following.

Of course it's a little more expensive, still not reasonable from a family viewpoint; the object is, as you would expect, to enhance the bottom line of the manufacturers.

In light of the pathetic, one-sided programming available, it is just a bigger, more expensive waste of time and effort. Unless you love NatGeo's constant stream of Fairy Tale Theater of the Destruction of the Earth, or thoroughly scripted 'spontaneous' "reality shows". Or perhaps the coming tidal wave of prime time porn in a couple of years. Just what the family needed: 3D porn in full HD.

it may be coming but I wont buy it. at times its phoney and the longer you view it it becomes tiresome! no doubt in time the process will improve but for now I will take a pass. so I think will most others. I think more work has to be done to improve LCD/LED image as a first priority. just my opinion!

HD was not a whole new type of content. The last transition comparable to 3D was the move from B&W to colour 2 generations ago. HD is simply an upgrade of entertainment content to bring it into line with modern display technology (see http://xkcd.com/732/). Many people have bought HD TVs simply because large TVs in the shops are all HD now, not out of some burning desire to see the pimples on a newreaders face.

On the contrary, the fastest growing video market is on the Internet. Because of bandwidth limitation most of this is SD or worse. Similarly more people listen to low quality audio on iPods than surround sound hi-fi.

The appetite is for originality and immediacy of content, not quality of presentation. The movie studios and record labels are desperately trying to revive demand for the tired pap they dish out with technological window-dressing, but the public aren't buying. I can't see them going out of their way to buy into 3D either.

I can understand the thrill of watching movies like Avatar or sports in 3D, but what's the point of watching a 3D sitcoms, soups or talk shows?

I think 3D is being widely overhyped. Even for movies, I can't imagine how 3D would make any romantic comedy, or something of the sort, better.

3D is good for some things, but I can't imagine it ever becoming a standard in any medium, except maybe videogames and animations, cause in this context 3D does make more sense.

This is not like the transition to talkies or to color. 3D is tiring and uncomfortable, so there is a downside for the viewer, and for most of the programming we have today either in movie theaters or tv it doesn't pay off.

When these people from the industry talk about a major progression to 3D they don't seem to realize that implicitly to that there would need to be a major change in content itself.

If they force everything into 3D I think it will die just like it died in the 60s and 80s.

I still doubt that 3D television will take off. I personally think that many families have just switched to HDTVs (as shown by the stats) and don't view 3D as a high priority to grab a new set.
As for myself, I have no intentions of buying a 3D set and really don't care if it's even on my next TV. I think I'd likely get sick after watching so much 3D. Fun for a day, but disturbing and unnecessary for everyday life.